What’s a CPST to Think When Doctors Disagree?Based on a review of research related to the infant car seat challenge (ICSC), the Canadian Paediatric Society (CaPS, Canada’s version of the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP) has issued a revised position statement.

One More Note on LATCH Weight Limits: What Do We Tell the Folks? - Saturday, July 12, 2014

I was recently asked whether our SRN Fact Sheets were updated to reflect the recent changes to FMVSS 213. While I assured the customer that we had reviewed all sheets and made any edits needed, I also noted that the changes were minor. Our fact sheets are meant to provide caregivers with easy-to-read information about best practice, so technical details about subjects like regulations are not appropriate and would in fact detract from the key safety messages.

Safe Ride News, among the group of petitioners to NHTSA that cited concerns regarding the recent FMVSS 213 rule change, discusses why the implementation of the final rule nonetheless marks a step forward in the LATCH era.

an SRN guest editorial by Dr. Flaura Winston of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Subtitled “From Car Seat to Driver’s Seat,” Dr. Winston lays out compelling reasons why CPSTs should broaden the reach of educational efforts to include our children who are young drivers in this special editorial.

For their forthcoming major revision of the NHTSA CPS Standardized Curriculum, the National CPS Board requested input from the CPS community. Safe Ride News was grateful to be asked and happy to provide the requested constructive feedback for specific pages of the curriculum. We also had some general thoughts regarding tethering and tether anchor weight limits in this open letter to the board.

NHTSA has developed a proposed plan for vehicle manufacturers to voluntarily assess and recommend at least three current CR models in each category (RF, FF and booster) for use in their current vehicles. In its response to the NHTSA program plan, Safe Ride News Publications has applauded the effort and commented about several aspects.

The current situation of mixed messages regarding LATCH anchor weight limits should not be tolerated for yet another ten years. We feel the public must have one, clearly-communicated source for LATCH weight limits, and that source must be definitively established through improvements to FMVSS 213 and 225 requirements.

One of the many benefits of attending a national conference like Lifesavers is the opportunity to hear leading policymakers communicate what they perceive to be our top safety priorities . . . I noticed one important fact: CPS was missing from the discussion.

Each year, over 200 infants nationwide need a large car bed to ride safely to and from their medical appointments and other places, yet they have been marooned by the lack of a specialty device that can fit them. Today, there is hope for developing a car bed that will fit larger infants. A new, small manufacturer, Hope Special Needs Products, LLC, has committed to take on the project, but it must seek financial support to finish development and testing.

Misunderstanding the toll of crash forces on CRs, along with more attention to family financial burdens, has increased discussion of whether or not a CR can continue to be used after a minor crash or when the CR was unoccupied during the crash. Frankly, I am surprised by how many CPSTs seem to rely heavily on advice from NHTSA or other outside sources, dismissing the warnings and requirements of the specific CR manufacturer.